Technology Books

A simple but beautiful book which is rich in the history of wood and woodworking in America. It is informative as well as rich in life lessons for all.

If you ever thought you knew all about wood, guess again.
This book has more history, knowledge and facts than any we
have ever had. We have a copy and have given copies to approx.
6 people in the wood working business.

We own a saw mill, but my husband was so delighted with little
known facts and trivia, we just had to share it with others.

A MUST buy!!!!

Eric Sloane has written several books, filled with his wonderful drawings, looking back at times in our early American past. This is the first of his I've read, and I want to read them all. I can't say if he is accurate in his depictions, nor whether his viewpoint has full historical merit, but he shows us the value of what we've lost.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it in a sitting. I'm not even all that interested in wood or building anything else that may have made me a likely fan. The writing was fantastically engaging, and the tidbits and anecdotes just kept coming. I say it's Cliff Claven writes a book because that's how I've been describing it for 10 years now - Sloane's enthusiasm and honest passion are to writing what the charm of a pure young laugh is to happiness. I've given this book away I don't know how many times, and have never heard of somebody not loving it too.

This is Sloane's best book in my opinion, but then I've been a woodworker for many years and already have "a reverence for wood". There is much to learn here, a lot of information compressed into easily understood drawings and text and a joy to study. Highly recommended for both the woodworker and anyone interested in wood and its properties and uses.

It is a good book for PROACT process, we are going to use mandatory in our Company.

During the past ten years I have worked with a nunber of methodologies in the area of Root cause analysis. During this time I have seen none as effective and cost efficient as the PROACT methodologies showcased in this book.

Bob has written a classic RCA manual for all people in all industries. I personally have used both the methodology and software to great effect and would recommend them to anyone.

If you are serious about a reliability growth program in your site, then you need this book!

I co-ordinate a root cause troubleshooting clinic at a major engine manufacturer. We have had moderate success with our investigations and have developed several powerful methodologies. This book has taken our procedures one large step further with a coherent, effective method to analyse and document a problem to root cause. The combination of system diagram, logic tree and verification log described in the book is exactly the kind of methodology we needed and is proving very useful. The book is well written and is filled with useful guidelines for such required activities as information gathering and selection of the most productive analyses to perform. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in root cause analysis.

I have now been involved with RCA for several years and it's the way to go in the future. This book is a good example of what Root Cause Analysis is all about. The book focuses on the use of the PROACT system and I imagine would they would work very well together. I am looking at trying PROACT as well, not just yet! Good book easy to read and gives good definitions to those foggy terms. I enjoyed the book and I use it for my job which speaks for it's self, it doesn't hide in a cupboard or on a shelf. I get the feeling this book is one of the better ones in the bunch, not just someone who has jumped on the RCA bandwagon because it's a flavour of the month.

Closing the gap between the goals companies set and their actual situations is the overall focus of this book. Written by two experienced executives from the Reliability Center, Inc., the book helps readers identify, resolve, and eliminate the chronic plant floor issues, such as repeated equipment or system failures, that hinder the attainment of organizational goals.

Specialists in root cause analysis methodology, the authors discuss the roles of management and a root cause analysis team in prioritizing the problems to analyze, automationg the process, and helping to uncover the physical, human, and latent causes of undesirable workplace events. They point out that the gap between goals and reality that exists in virtually every industry leads to undesirable outcomes, failures, and incidents that siphon profits from the corporate coffers. To close the gap, they explain, companies must reinvent the way they work, understanding why errors occur and how to prevent them.

The book explains root cause analysis, which is a structured process designed to uncover the cause of any undesirable workplace event. The PROACT steps outlined in the book teach companies how to preserve event data, order the analysis team, analyze the data using logic trees, communicate findings and recommendations, and track for bottom-line results.

Case studies are used to illustrate the potential of root cause analysis, showing its effectiveness in particular in steelmaking, customer service, and manufacturing. Software for automating root cause analysis is also discussed. Informative, well-illustrated and well-organized text is worthwhile reading for any plant engineer seeking to understand why errors occur and to eliminate them, and have a direct positive impact on his company's bottom line.

Joel Salatin is the 'guru' of environmental farming. His ideas have been well developed and tested in his own 500 acre operation. Salad Bar Beef is an excellent read about making a profit from a small cattle herd.

Joel tells it like it is. I am using his books to setup my farm. Great writing and as always informative.

This is the single best reference for pasture-raised beef. Joel is an original thinker. Learn how to work with nature, minimize expenses and maximize profits and keep it healthy. About the only things that could have been stronger are more specifics on using movable hot fencing and plant management (over-seeding, how specific grasses and herbs work together). For this information, I recommend "American GrazingLands Services" run by Dr Gerrish of May, Idaho. From Joel, you will also learn how the farming economy is rigged and why it so difficult to make a living at farming. He is full of good ideas on possible helps and end-runs.

If you are like my family and want to step away from the agri-business model of farming then this book is a great resource. Some parts are a little complicated as far as his method for tracking yields, but once you get the hang of it, it is quite an effective tracking method. Keep in mind...he won't tell you what kind of grasses to grow. Which I think is great, because you need to grow what is native to your area, not his.

These books are not just a great resource for raising salad bar beef, but also for marketing this unique product. That alone makes these books well worth the money.

If it wasn't for bureaucrats farming with this method would be absolute heaven! This is an absolute essential read for anyone wanting to raise beef cattle. If your interested in creating a grass based business I would recommend reading "You can Farm" First!

Author Peggy Ashbrook shows readers that science is indeed simple, while also being fun and fascinating. I use this book regularly in my preschool classroom. The activities are clearly explained and easy to set up with materials I'm likely to have on hand. The book describes what I need to get ready, what to do with children step by step and what questions I can ask to help children think through what they are observing. It also includes a list of books for each topic and a note home that tells families what we're learning in class.

Peggy Ashbrook is a master at explaining concepts clearly. She shows readers how to help children make discoveries on their own, rather than telling them information. The topics are interesting to children, whether they are making bubbles, separating colors, pumping water or mixing up a batch of slime. Science is Simple is a must-have for teachers and parents.

I just started teaching science to pre kindergarten children. This book takes a concept, breaks it down into explainable elements and then provides complimentary activies to include books, songs, fingerplay, etc. I was talking about a lesson plan in Clay Cafe to a friend last weekend, and a teenager nearby piped up: "We just did that in 8th grade science." I viewed this as a real compiment! My pre kindergarten students love the class. Mothers apologize when their child is sick and cannot come! This book has been absolutely terrific! I need to see if the author has other books that she has written as well.

The book is great and I'm glad I bought it, though, if your child is under 4 or even 5 you might need to wait before you can actually enjoy this book.

This book is a must have for teachers/parents of young children. It is written in an excellent format and has great experiments. I conduct numerous hands on science experiments with my class of four year olds and turn to this book more than any others I have. The parent info. page for each section is an added bonus. Wish I had written it.

The ideas presented for exploration in this book are simple and accessible to even a non-science minded person. I especially like the children's book suggestions pertaining to the topic - it gives me some resources for further "research" with the kids. Unlike many curricula-type books it is not particulary designed for multi-child experience... so for me and my 2 kids it is very easy to use with little adaptation for homeschool work.

This brilliantly written text shows Ritter's ability to take a very complex subject and make it simple and easy to understand. As pioneer of Total Security Management, Ritter provides the reader with a value management solution within their core business function. This is extremely valuable information for anyone in the trade, safety and security, logistics and transportation industries. Susan Wellman, Business Owner, SA Advisors Securing Global Transportation Networks

Ritter's book is a lesson for all CEO's and C-level execs on the importance of understanding the value of security at each critical link in their supply network. Through real examples and thorough explanations the book takes a practical approach to explaining and encouraging the value of security -- for most it is the most critical piece of their business because when it fails, the business usually fails. It's that simple. Securing Transportation Networks helps any executive understand how security adds value to their bottom line and their long term success. In my experience the ROI for any investment is management's top concern -- the book provides the why's and the benefits of a system that more holistically includes security in every day processes ultimately assuring business continuity and survival. Can't recommend it highly enough -- not only for those involved in supply chain but for any executive who relies on other suppliers or networks for their business.

This is an excellent book for anyone involved at any level in securing our global transportation networks; or ultimately for anyone that makes decisions that will have an affect positively or negatively on the ability for security personnel to execute their jobs. The book provides a solid foundation by presenting the Total Security Management (TSM) concept in building blocks that tie in together to formulate a strong base of knowledge.

The presented information is easy to understand for all personnel and shows how by following these guidelines they will achieve greater security of all assets (fixed, in-transit, brand equity, and human capital) and just as importantly, how they will do so with costs in balance to the risk level needed for that particular industry or organization. By providing such a strong foundation, the security industry and more specifically security personnel, now have another strong tool at their disposal for presenting a common frame of reference to advance all aspects of securing the transportation network and doing so in line with the concerns of companies that are facing a down and challenged economy.

Perhaps this is its strongest asset, in providing personnel in the security field with a solid tool and base of reference to assist them with highlighting and justifying what are truly legitimate concerns for their specific industry while at the same time providing strong evidence to support their conclusions; and ultimately show how well thought out actions and expenditures based on sound metrics will be in that organizations best interests and will ultimately prove cost effective in the long term both in terms of dollar values and brand equity.

Its a great book, very usefull. The product arrived in time and in proper conditions.

Everything we use everyday comes from somewhere. Getting that product from point A to point B in a timely, cost-effective way is important to everyone in the transportation industry. But the attacks against America both domestically and abroad have shown that we are as vulnerable as ever, and one way to secure our business interests is to secure our transportation networks.
That is the subject of this excellent book, written by three veterans of the industry and featuring a foreward by Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of Homeland Security. Using their years of experience, the authors develop in the book the concept of Total Security Management, and use compelling case studies to illustrate their point that a secure business is a successful business. The book breaks down the global transportation process, shows where value is added along the way, and how to maximize that value while minimizing risk, not only from terrorism but from other less malicious but equally damaging impacts. The book further demonstrates the financial benefits of investing in security, and also how to protect physical corporate assets, whether they be fixed or goods in transit. A "Book of the Month" of the American Society for Industrial Security in December 2006, this book is a must for anyone working in or around global transportation industries.

Excellent book. I work in the security space and ended up talking with folks in our Human Factors department about trying to do some work in this area. Other priorities prevented things from going forward. Now they have been re-organized to another department. Does anyone have any hints on how to "sell" this type of program to folks? This book spurred me to action.

Are you a security researcher or professional? If you are, then this book is for you! Editors Lorrie Faith Cranor and Simson Garfinkel, have done an outstanding job of writing a practical book that will help you realize the need for increased security usability in your systems.

Cranor and Garfinkel, begin by stating their premise: that security and usability can be synergistic. Then, the editors take an in-depth look at techniques for identifying and authenticating computer users to systems that are both local and remote. They continue by examining how system software can deliver or destroy a secure user experience. Then, the editors explain how this book is devoted to systems that allow people to control the release of their personal information, enabling them to use the Internet in relative anonymity if they so desire. Then, they look at specific experiences of security and software vendors in addressing the issue of usability. Finally, the editors discuss their collection of classic papers on security and usability that everybody should read.

This most excellent book discusses case studies of usable secure system design, along with the latest thinking about how to approach this problem. More importantly, the content of this book will give developers important insights that will lead to successful designs.

Lorraine Faith Cranor & Simson Garfinkel's SECURITY AND USABILITY: DESIGNING SECURE SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE examines the future of computer security with an eye to consider not only the factors which make a system secure, but how privacy design pitfalls, web bugs, and other issues can affect security choices and effectiveness. Most security titles advocate complex systems which are hard to use, but the authors maintain this belief to be wrong, and provide insights into the future of security which presents over thirty essays from leading security experts around the world.

This isn't a typical O'Reilly book, and it's definitely not an "animal" book. I think that's something that's thrown a lot of people for a loop the first time they see this book. That change is good, however, because what O'Reilly has delivered is a book whose contents will stand up much longer and be more useful than most of the books out there on any technical subject, from any publisher. By having various viewpoints in information rich, managable pieces so well organized, the book itself is usable both as a read through from cover to cover and as a reference.

Security and Usability (S&U) is targeted at two main camps. The usability camp who doesn't quite understand what a security system is. They think in terms of making the user's experience with the software better, and often that means making the design more accomodating. That's great, and very valuable, but sometimes that's been known to compromise the system's security.

The other camp this book targets is a security application or a security system designer. Often this camp doesn't have a great grasp on usability. We (I think I fall into this category) tend to be power users and build systems that work for power users. When regular users (read: "everyone else") encounter such a system they're usually stuck, and understandably so. S&U introduces many usability concepts and paradigms to the software or system designer and provide a springboard for better results.

Make no mistake, this book wont make you an expert in either field, but it will give you a deeper understanding and a strong foothold at improving both scenarios. If nothing else, it gives both camps the vocabulary to start talking and working together.

One of my favorite chapters in the book outlines how ZoneAlarm was designed and implemented, along with some of its issues along the way. This is a remarkably successful application that achieves both good security design and utility while being usable by a large portion of the population. Such a study - and the book has many similar studies to back up viewpoints - is an invaluable aid in getting the message across.

If you write security software, design security systems, or work with a team that does, by all means look at this book. It will improve your product.

I was really hesitant when I got this because I tend to hate collections of academic papers. They're often hard to read, heavily redundant, and jargon filled. This book isn't, and my copy is already dog-eared, and filled with turned-down pages. It is chock full of useful advice, interesting stories, great references, and useful lessons learned. If you build security software, or software with security implications, you should buy this book.

Once you've bought it, it may help to skim the first few chapters, which set the scene, and do contain a fair bit of redundancy, probably unavoidably. If you get bogged down, skip forward, there's lots of great stuff.

[Disclosure: I got a review copy from the authors, but have since bought a copy for someone else.]

Everybody talks about Daylight Savings Time. This book tells an interesting story about it and timekeeping.

This book really opened my eyes to the story of "Daylight Saving Time".
It was a fast read and I recommend it to anyone who is involved in DST.
:)

Highly recommended.

Prerau has done a fine job chronicling the history of DST. Every reader is certain to find something here he didn't know (Example: Having been overseas 1973-75, I was completely unaware that the U.S. had ever experienced a period of year-round DST!) I'd prefer he had spent more time exploring the available evidence of DST's "advantages" and "disadvantages," which he comes to rather late in the book.

New legislation in 2005 will extend the period of Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. considerably, so this topic is "timely" in more ways than one. Whether you love or hate DST, this book provides a useful foundation of history and fact as the controversy bubbles on.

I grew up hearing as an explanation for Daylight Saving Time that it was "good for the farmers." It turns out that this is a widespread misconception, and it also turns out not to be true: farmers have in fact historically opposed the adoption or expansion of DST because of the inconveniences it imposes on them. Another childhood illusion put to bed, if decades late.

Since 1986 the U.S. has observed DST from the first Sunday of April to the last Sunday of October. Beginning in 2007, DST is to be expanded by three weeks (in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005). It will now begin on the second Sunday of March and extend until the first Sunday of November. Given this change I figured it was high time for me to find out what Daylight Saving Time is all about.

I review below David Prerau's Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time. It's the first of two DST-related books that have been weighing down my TBR shelves. Both books were published in 2005--the idea of exploring DST apparently being very much in the air in the first years of the new millennium.

---

Benjamin Franklin proposed in 1784, when he was serving as the American minister to France, that Parisians conserve energy--in the form of candle wax and tallow--by changing their habits, rising with the sun rather than sleeping in with their shutters closed against the daylight. The idea never caught on, and it is at any rate impractical as it would depend on the alteration of individual habits on a large scale for it to have any chance of working for a community. Over a hundred years later, in 1905, a certain William Willett devised an alternative plan for increasing the number of usable daylight hours during England's summer months. His plan, what we now call Daylight Saving Time, called for setting the nation's clocks forward in the spring (he initially imagined the time being changed in 20-minute increments on each of four successive Sundays) and back in the fall, thus not relying on people to alter their sleep patterns on an individual basis. His idea didn't catch on either, at least not immediately. In his book Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time author David Prerau, who has coauthored government reports on the effects of DST, traces the complex history of DST from Willett's tireless campaigning on behalf of its adoption to the modern era. Prerau also provides a chapter on the two artificial adjustments to natural sun time that men adopted prior to the introduction of DST. (Mean solar time was adopted starting in the late 18th century. It differs from apparent solar time in that the length of a day is a constant throughout the year rather than depending on the amount of daylight in any given day, which varies throughout the year. The second artificial adjustment was standard time, adopted in the late 19th century, which is when a single mean time is recognized over a large area.)

The history of DST has been, as Prerau's subtitle asserts, a highly contentious one, the case for and against its adoption taken up over the years by a variety of special interest groups--the railroads, theater operators, purveyors of sporting goods, golfers and farmers and concerned parents and religious purists. Political cartoonist jumped to portray its inconveniences. Presidents and prime ministers came to recognize its merits as an economizing measure. And scientists and astronomers were divided on the question of implementing it. The editors of the scientific journal Nature, for example, ridiculed DST early on by equating the time change with the artificial elevation of thermometer readings in the winter:

"'It would be more reasonable to change the readings of a thermometer at a particular season than to alter the time shown on the clock, which is another scientific instrument.' They wondered if perhaps another bill would be proposed 'to increase the readings of thermometers by ten degrees during the winter months, so that 32∘F shall be 42∘F. One temperature can be called another just as easily as 2 A.M. can be expressed as 3 A.M.; but the change of name in neither case causes a change of condition.'"

It's surprising just how many people have had an axe to grind one way or another on the DST issue.

The implementation of DST was neither a quick affair nor a straightforward one. Initially adopted in the U.S. during World War I, for example, it was repealed in 1919, retained in pockets of the country between the Wars, adopted again and expanded during Wold War II, and repealed again by Truman after the War. It remained in use by local option in the decades following, and wasn't adopted as national law until 1966. Even now its implementation is not entirely regular, as certain states and territories have opted not to observe DST. In short, the history of Daylight Saving Time is a confusing mess. Transforming the complex story of its adoption in the U.S. and England and elsewhere in the world into a readable narrative is a great accomplishment.

Prerau's book is packed with information, some of which certainly surprised me. I'd had no idea, for example, that it was standard as late as the 19th century for communities to determine their time locally, so that the time from town to town would vary by minutes depending on how the communities were situated from one another longitudinally.

"As long as travel and communications were relatively slow, it didn't much matter that, for instance, in the United States when it was 12:00 noon in Chicago it was 12:31 in Pittsburgh, 12:24 in Cleveland, 12:17 in Toledo, 12:13 in Cincinnati, 12:09 in Louisville, 12:07 in Indianapolis, 11:50 in St. Louis, 11:48 in Dubuque, 11:39 in St. Paul, and 11:27 in Omaha. The relaxed pace of travel, the lack of instant communications, the inherent inaccuracy of contemporary clocks, and the less frantic pace of life all made minor time variations unimportant."

What a strange world our great-grandparents inhabited.

Prerau sometimes errs on the side of including too many details in his book, but for the most part the story he tells is fascinating, and the book well written. Seize the Daylight is a nice example of a type of book that I particularly enjoy, one that is as informative as it is interesting to read, one that sheds light on a convention or invention that quietly informs our daily lives but which few of us bother to investigate on our own. Seize the Daylight definitely rewards the reading.

Debra Hamel -- author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece (Yale University Press, 2003)

I never realized that Daylight Saving Time (DST) had such a controversial and turbulent history. I believe that the author has done an excellent job in detailing DST's evolution, often in excruciating detail, right up to the current, yet still fluctuating, situation. The writing is clear and engaging making the book very easy to read. The book also contains many caricatures that were published over the years clearly expressing people's views on this most contentious issue. I highly recommended this book to anyone, especially those interested in recent history. The fact that this subject has recently made the news makes this book very timely.

My grandfather gave me this book years ago, and I consider it my vegetable gardening bible. I second what other reviewers have said...if I could only have one book, this would be it, and I can't believe that it is out of print! I haven't looked at Seymour's newer book (I'm sure it's great, too) but I cherish my aged, tattered paperback copy of this book and will always consider it my first point of reference.

I've checked this book out of my library so many times I've lost count. It is absolutely the best book on gardening I've ever read.

Gardening: The introdution explains the fundamentals of nature's cycles and the ecology of gardening. The edible parts of plants are explained. There are then several pages of (beautiful!) illustrations of vegetables, fruits & herbs. The cycle of seasons is discussed in the next chapter and it shows illustrations of what your garden might look like during each season and what gardening chores you perform during the different seasons. The essentials of good gardening are discussed in depth in the fourth chapter, such as soil treatment, composting, propagation, grafting & pruning, controlling pests, harvesting & storing, and the deep bed method of gardening.

Growing: Chapters 5-7 describe how to grow vegetables, fruits & herbs. What I like most is that in addition to explaining a little of the history of the plants, and how to grow them and propagate them, it also explains how to harvest and preserve the food that results. It also explains how to grow unusual food, like kumquats and quince, in addition to all the usual things you'd expect. Greenhouse growing is discussed in chapter 8.

Preserving: Chapter 9 describes how to preserve all the food that results from your garden. It explains the fundamentals of why food rots and the basic methods of preserving (salting, drying, pickling, canning, jamming, freezing). When making jam, this book assumes you get pectin by adding lemons or apples, not by running to the store to buy a packet of it. It shows how to make a solar dehydrator to dry your food, and which foods are best preserved using each method. It also goes into details on how to make wine, cider, and mead (honey wine).

Miscellaneous: The tenth chapter describes a miscellany of self-sufficient gardening topics, such as raising animals like chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, rabbits, and bees. Water drainage, terracing, garden paths, hedges, fences, sheds, and caring for tools are all discussed briefly.

If you can get a copy of this book, keep it! It's a jewel.

This is the best single reference for growing vegetable, herbs and fruits, with additional advice on preserving food. It contains in concise form valuable information on soil requirements, plant food, and diseases as well as other horticultural information. It is a gem. And so beautiful to look at!

I've checked this book out of my library so many times I've lost count. It is absolutely the best book on gardening I've ever read.

Gardening: The introdution explains the fundamentals of nature's cycles and the ecology of gardening. The edible parts of plants are explained. There are then several pages of (beautiful!) illustrations of vegetables, fruits & herbs. The cycle of seasons is discussed in the next chapter and it shows illustrations of what your garden might look like during each season and what gardening chores you perform during the different seasons. The essentials of good gardening are discussed in depth in the fourth chapter, such as soil treatment, composting, propagation, grafting & pruning, controlling pests, harvesting & storing, and the deep bed method of gardening.

Growing: Chapters 5-7 describe how to grow vegetables, fruits & herbs. What I like most is that in addition to explaining a little of the history of the plants, and how to grow them and propagate them, it also explains how to harvest and preserve the food that results. It also explains how to grow unusual food, like kumquats and quince, in addition to all the usual things you'd expect. Greenhouse growing is discussed in chapter 8.

Preserving: Chapter 9 describes how to preserve all the food that results from your garden. It explains the fundamentals of why food rots and the basic methods of preserving (salting, drying, pickling, canning, jamming, freezing). When making jam, this book assumes you get pectin by adding lemons or apples, not by running to the store to buy a packet of it. It shows how to make a solar dehydrator to dry your food, and which foods are best preserved using each method. It also goes into details on how to make wine, cider, and mead (honey wine).

Miscellaneous: The tenth chapter describes a miscellany of self-sufficient gardening topics, such as raising animals like chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, rabbits, and bees. Water drainage, terracing, garden paths, hedges, fences, sheds, and caring for tools are all discussed briefly.

If you can get a copy of this book, keep it! It's a jewel.

This is one of the three books that anyone seriously interested in growing vegetables absolutely MUST have. (The other two are John Jeavons' "How To Grow More Vegetables . . . " and the century-old but in print Vilmorin manual "The Vegetable Garden."

Seymour's comprehensive, informed, clearly presented, expert information--and the many fine illustrative drawings--make this book essential; and that one word says all that needs saying.

This book is written as college course text. It is easy to understand if you have a good techincal background. It does a good job of covering the many different aspects of the difficult subject.

Nice book. It helped with my understanding of nano technology. Best if used in conjunction with a class requiring it so the teacher can explain some of the processes better than the book because it is vague on some concepts.

This book is well worth the price if you are looking for an understanding of how semiconductors are made. Although it would be useful to have an engineering degree in order to understand all of it, it isn't necessary. The first couple of pages in each chapter are easy to read and as you gain knowlegde, the book simply expands for you. If I have a complaint, it would be that the book doesn't fit easily in my briefcase!

I feel the authors have accomplished exactly their stated intent. I have used this text as a Fab Manager to train technicians new and old, and I have used it in academia to instruct students. It is superbly presented and easy for ANYONE to understand. It is worth purchasing for the glossary alone which is an excellent tool in helping the un-indoctrinated sift through the tons of jargon associated with this technology. This book is not for in-depth study of the subjects covered- it just explains the basics very well.

I am non-technical person in the financial community and have used this text as a resource on a regular basis. I have found it very accessible despite the fact that I have no engineering degree. I recommend this book to any reader who wants a detailed summary of semiconductor manufacturing from wafer fabrication to packaging and test.

The seven classics in this book are so good that the chinese military classified them so that no up and coming rebels could read them; But nowadays everyone can, and should read them, so do it. It is an essential for those who seek to understand conflict, prosperity, and humanity itself.

I, for one, enjoyed this book. I am not here to critic, as a few of these other reviews appear to be. One, the book is easy to understand and follow. Meaning, the translations are well recorded. Two, I have recently been curious in Chinese history of warfare and this book was able to show me much Chinese philosophy towards warfare. I recomend it this book to any follower of military history or Chinese warfare. You get your moneys worth.

Sawyer knows his subject. He is a master of Chinese warfare and culture. He even teaches you how to pronounce some common Chinese words that we in the west always mispronounce.

The book is great. It covers a lot --- not just The Art of War, though that's included. It is a complete study of the Chinese strategies of war and I recommend it to those interested in this topic.

The works in this book are:

1) T'ai Kung's Six Secret Teachings
2) The Methods of Ssu-ma
3) Sun-tzu's Art of War
4) Wu-tzu
5) Wei Liao-tzu
6) Three Strategies of Huang Shih-kung
7) Questions and Replies between T'ang T'ai-tsung and Li Wei-kung

Hope that helps.

My one complaint about this book is that it uses the Wade-Giles transliteration rather than Pinyin, which is what everyone, including China, is using. Wade-Giles is now over 35 years outmoded, and can be very confusing for the uninitiated. Compare Ssu-ma I (Wade-Giles) with Sima Yi (Pinyin). Would you know that they're the same bloke? (If you do, bravo.) I assume this speaks to the age of the translation rather than an editorial choice, but it's pretty annoying that they didn't update it.

If you think you might like this book, but want more of a story than essays/discourses, I recommend 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' It's very long, but well-loved in most regions of Asia, and with good reason. Also, search for Zhuge Liang's commentary on 'The Art of War.' It's all on Amazon.

I first saw this book at my public library, and loved it. (Evidentally someone else loved it too, 'cause it wandered off and left a few years later.) It holds a great list of books.

Sun Tzu's "Art of War" is in there, but I especially like Tao Tai Kung (or "The secret teachings of the Tai Kung") The most entertaining thing about this work is that it is a beautiful example of a different world view. It was an excellent introduction to an entire philosophy.
(look for surprising parallels twixt this and Adam Smith's "...Wealth of Nations", with an eastern perspective.)